abduction - to move a limb or some other body part away from the
midline of the bodyABG - arterial blood gas readingacetaminophen - a nonsalicylate analgesic-antipyretic (Tylenol)ACE - angiotension-converting enzymeACLS - advanced cardiac life support; includes electricity
(defibrillator) and drugs for life threatening arrhythmiasacidotic - abnormally high acidity of body fluids and tissuesacute - sudden, intense flare-upadenosine - a drug used to help a patient with
Supraventricular tachycardia convert to normal sinus rhythmagonal - a word used to describe a major negative change in a patient's
condition, usually preceding immediate death, such as a complete cessation of
breathing or a dire change in the patient's EEG or EKGalbuterol - a bronchodilator used on asthma patients and patients having
bronchial spasms to dilate the bronchia and improve breathingALOC - abbreviation for Acute Loss of Consciousnessalzheimer's disease - a progressive disease with specific brain
abnormalities marked by memory loss and progressive inability to function
normally at even the simplest tasksAMA - against medical advice or American Medical Associationambu-bag - handheld squeeze bag attached to a face mask. see also
baggingamitriptyline - a tricyclic antidepressantamoxicillin - an antibioticamp - abbreviation for Ampule, which is a sealed plastic or glass capsule
containing a single dose of a drug in a sterile solution for injection.anaphylactic shock - an extreme allergic reaction that usually involves
heart failure, circulatory collapse, a severe asthma-like
difficulty in breathing and sometimes results in death.ancef - a cephalosporin antibioticanemia - chronically low hematocritaneurysm - a balloonlike swelling in the wall of an arteryangina pectoris - a severe acute attack of cardiac painangioplasty - plastic surgery of blood vessels during which a balloon is
passed into the artery and inflated to enlarge it and increase blood flowanhidrosis - the abnormal absence of sweatanterior - word used to describe the front surface of an organ, muscle,
etcantivert - a drug prescribed for nausea and dizzinessaortic calcification - hardening of the aorta, the main artery coming out
of the left ventricle of the heart, usually from cholesterol deposits or some
other organic substanceaortic coarctation - a dangerous narrowing of the aortaaortic dissection - a tear in the aortaaortic rupture - when the aorta burstsarterial stick - insertion of an IV line into an arteryarrhythmia - when the beat of the heart is no longer originating from
the sinus node, and the rhythm is abnormalASA - the abbreviation for acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)astrocytoma - a slowly growing tumor of the glial tissue of the brain
and the spinal cordasystole - a condition in which the heart no longer beats and usually
cannot be restartedativan - a minor tranquilizer drug (lorazepam) used for anxiety,
tension, agitation, or fatigueatropine - a drug to increase the heart rateatypical angina - a form of angina pectoris that does not manifest
the typical angina symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, etc, but which
comes on suddenly and occurs without a predisposing causeAZT - an antiviral drug (zidovudine) prescribed for the treatment of
AIDS

B

Babinski's reflex - also known as the plantar reflex; the movement of
the big toe upward instead of downward; used to test injury to, or diseases of,
the upper motor neuronsbactrim - the trade name for cotrimoxazole and
sulfamethoxizole, an antibacterial agent particularly useful for
urinary infectionsbagging - manual respiration for a patient having breathing trouble that
uses a handheld squeeze bag attached to a face maskBarlow's syndrome - infantile scurvyBetadine - trade name for povidone-iodine, a preparation used as a
surgical scrub that is available in liquid and aerosol formsbilateral hemothorax - blood in both sides of the pleura, the membrane
covering the lungblood culture - incubating a blood sample so that suspected infectious
bacteria can multiply and thus be identifiedblood gas - a test to determine the gas-phase components of blood,
including oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH balance, etcblood pressure - a measure of how well blood circulates through
your arteries, listen in the format of the systolic pressure over the
diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure is about 120/80blood swab - a blood sample taken with a cotton-tipped stickBLS - abbreviation for basic life support; includes CPR and removal
of foreign body airway obstructionbody packer - a drug courier who swallows condoms filled with cocaine
or heroin in order to smuggle them into a country and then passes them rectally
after he's safebolus - a large dose of a drug that is given (usually intravenously) at
the beginning of treatment to raise blood-level concentrations to a therapeutic
levelbounceback - a patient who returns to the ER with the same complaint
shortly after being releasedbowel disimpaction - manual removal of impacted fecal matter from a
patient's rectumBP - abbreviation for blood pressurebradycardic - a slowing of the heart rate to less than 50 beats per
minutebreath sounds - the sounds heard through a stethoscope placed on the
chest over the lungsbronchoscopy - the use of an endoscope to examine and take
biopsies from the interior of the bronchiaBUN - abbreviation for blood urea nitrogen

C

c-section - shorthand for cesarean section, which is surgical
delivery of a baby through the abdominal wallc-spine - shorthand for cervical spine, or the neckcalcium oxalate stone - a kidney stoneCalot's triangle - the cystic duct, the common duct, and the livercalyx - a cup-shaped part of the kidneyscapillary refill - when a fingernail is pressed, the nail bed turns
white. Capillary refill refers to the return of the nail bed to pink color.
Good cap refill is two seconds or lesscapoten - see captoprilcaptopril - an antihypertensive and ACE inhibitor prescribed for
high blood failure and congestive heart failure. It is also sold under the
trade name capoten (captopril is the drug's generic name)carboxyhemoglobin - a substance formed when the poisonous gas carbon
monoxide combines with hemoglobin in the blood. Carboxyhemoglobin is incapable
of transporting oxygen to the body's organs. Large amounts of this compound
are found in carbon monoxide poisoningcardiac effusion - see pericardial effusioncardiac enzymes - creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate
transaminasecardiomyopathy - a disorder of the heart muscle that can often be fatal
cardiac tamponade - compression of the heart from fluid
such as an effusion or bloodCAT scan - Computerized axial tomographycatcher's mask - a device used for a patient with bleeding varices in
the throat that allows a tube with two balloons attached to be positioned
securely in the throat and inflated. The balloons then put pressure on the
enlarged veins in order to stop the bleedingCBC - abbreviation for complete blood count, which is an all-purpose
blood test; combining diagnostic evaluations of red blood cell count, white
cell count, erythrocyte indices, hematocrit, and a differential blood countcc - abbreviation for cubic centimeterscecum - a pouch at the junction of the large and small intestine. The
lower end bears the vermiform appendixceftriaxone - a cephalosporin antibioticcellulitis - a skin infectioncentral line - the central location in the circulation of the vein
used, usually in the internal jugular and subclavian veins in the neck, or
the femoral veins in the groin. This has the benefit of being able to send
more fluid into the bodycephalosporin - an antibioticcesarean section - surgical delivery of a baby through the abdominal
wallchampagne tap - a successful lumbar puncture
with no red blood cells found, which means it is
as clean as possible. So-called because the supervising resident has to, by
custom, buy the student a bottle champagneChem 7 - a battery of blood chemistry tests; the seven parts of a Chem
7; sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN),
creatinine, and glucosechest film - a chest X-rayCHF - abbreviation for congestive heart failure, see
pulmonary edemaclaudication - limping caused by impaired blood supply to the legscoag panel - a blood test used to determine the clotting factors of a
patient's bloodcode brown - term used when a patient doesn't make it to the bathroom
in timecompazine - a drug (prochlorperazine) prescribed for severe nausea and
vomiting and also for treatment of psychotic disorders and anxietycordotomy - surgical severing of the nerves in the spinal cord to
relieve intractable pain in the pelvis and lower limbscrasher - a person who passes out in the ER, often not a patient but a
family member who is upset over what's going on with a loved onecricothyroidotomy - a procedure used to surgically establish an airway
in the patient's throat when intubation isn't possibly because of
swelling or bleedingcricothyrotomy - see cricothyroidotomycrispy critter - irreverent ER slang for a seriously burned patientcrit - short for hematocritCPK - creatine phosphokinase, an enzyme that elevates in the blood
when a heart attack occurs, used as a confirmation of a heart attack and as
a gauge of damageCT scan - See CAT scanCVA - abbreviation for cerebrovascular accident, ie strokecyanotic - when a patient's skin and mucous membranes are bluish in
color from an inadequate supply of oxygen in the bloodcystic fibrosis - a lung disease that causes the production of thick
mucus in the lungs, hampering breathing

D

D5 - the abbreviation for dextrose (glucose) given in a 5 percent normal
saline solutionDarvocet - a drug (propoxyphene hydrochloride) prescribed for painDB - ER abbreviation for a dead bodydead shovel - ER slang for a fat man who dies while shoveling snowdebridement - cleaning an open wound by removing foreign material and
dead tissue. Debridement of burns is extremely painfuldecerebration - the progressive loss of cerebral function; advanced
decerebration (and the resultant deep unconsciousness) occurs with severe
damage to the cerebrum, the largest part of the braindeep vein thrombosis - a blood clot in a deep veindefibrillation - the cessation of fibrillation of the cardiac
muscle and restoration of a normal rhythmdelusional - having an irrational belief that cannot be changed by a
rational argument, often found in schizophrenia and manic-depressive
psychosisdemerol - trade name for meperidine, a synthetic analgesic often used
as a substitute for morphinediabetic ketoacidosis - depletion of the body's alkali reserves due to
diabetes, causing a major disruption in the body's acid-base balance. The
breath smells fruity and the patient is usually comatose.diagnosis - determining what's wrong with a patient by using the
patient's symptoms, signs, test results, medical background, and other
factorsdialysis - the procedure to filter blood for patients with kidney
failure, also used to remove absorbed toxins from overdosing and poisoningdiaphoresis - sweatingdiastolic - pressure during the relaxing of the heartDIC - abbreviation for disseminated intravascular coagulation (no blood
clotting). (In many hospitals, ER personnel also interpret DIC to mean "death
is coming" since disseminated intravascular coagulation usually means death
is imminent)
differential diagnosis - diagnosis made by ruling out many disorders.
The patient usually presents with symptoms that can be shared by many
conditions. For example, chest pain can be caused by many diseases or
conditions, and each one must be ruled out to arrive at the correct
diagnosisdigitalis - a drug prescribed for congestive heart failuredilantin - an anticonvulsant drug used to prevent seizuresdiplopia - double visiondisaster protocol color coding - the following color tags are used to
immediately triage patients during a mass casualty event: Green is
walking wounded; yellow is urgent; red is critical; black is DOAdistal pulse - the pulse farthest from the heartdiuresis - the increased production of urinediuretic - drug used to increased diuresis, ie lasixdiverticulitis - inflammation of the colonDNR - the abbreviation for do not resuscitate, which is requested or
ordered for terminally ill patientsDOA - abbreviation for dead on arrivaldopamine - a catecholamine neurotransmitter, similar to adrenaline. It
is used during surgery to increase cardiac output and renal blood flowDTP - a diphtheria tetanus pertussis toxoid injectiondyspnea - shortness of breathdystocia - difficult labor due to some fetal problem, such as dislocation
of the shoulders

E

ECG - electrocardiogram. measures heart activityEEG - electroencephalogram. measures brain activityEKG - see ECGeclampsia - a serious condition affecting pregnant women in which the
entire body is affected by convulsions and the patient eventually passes into
a comaectopic pregnancy - the development of the fetus in the fallopian tube
instead of in the wombedema - excessive accumulation of fluidelavil - trade name for amitriptylineelectrolyte analysis - tests the basic chemicals in the body;
sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonateembolectomy - surgical removal of an embolusembolus - a blood clotEMS - abbreviation for emergency medical services. The
term EMS is used in the American Heart Association protocols for BLS
and ACLSEMT - abbreviation for emergency medical technicianendocarditis - inflammation of cardiac tissue, usually caused by
bacterial infectionendoscope - a long flexible tube with its own special lightingepi - adrenaline, used to make heart beat faster and raise blood
pressureepidermis - the outer layer of the skinepidural - an epidural block; an injection through a catheter of a local
anesthetic to relieve pain during labor, usually done at the lumbar level of
the spineepiglottitis - inflammation of the epiglottisepinephrine - adrenalineesmolol - a beta-blocking drugETA - abbreviation for Estimated Time of Arrival

F

Feldene - a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (piroxicam) prescribed
for arthritis and other forms of joint and bone inflammationfentanyl - a short-acting morphine like narcotic analgesic of high
poitency, often used in conjunction with other drugs. Fentanyl can enhance the
effect of certain narcotics (including morphine)fetal distress - a term used to describe a number of critical conditions
threatening the live delivery of a fetusFHT - abbreviation for fetal heart tonesfibrillation - an uncoordinated, quivering of the heart muscle resulting
in a completely irregular pulsefirst-degree burn - a burn affecting only the epidermis. The
color of the burn is red, capillary refill is present, the skin texture is
normal, and the burn heals in five to ten days with no scarringflexeril - a potent muscle relaxantfluconazole - an antifungal drug used for infections of the mouth,
blood, and throat. Fluconazole is often used by AIDS patients to combat oral
thrush and other infectionsfluoroscope - an X-ray machineFocused H and P - a history and physical examination. H and P is the
term used to describe an examination that results in a patient history and
makes an assessment of his or her condition. The patient is physically
examined and then talked to regarding his or her complaint and the doctor
then makes a probably diagnosis. Focused means do not examine a patient's
feet or do a rectal if they're complaining of a headache and double visionfoley - a foley (indwelling) catheter. This is a thin flexible tube
inserted into the urethra in order to drain the bladder

G

gastric lavage - irrigation of the stomach when poisoning or bleeding
is suspected, or to remove ingested toxins before they enter the blood
streamGCS - see Glasgow coma scalegentamicin - an antibioticGGF1 - an abbreviation for grandpa's got a fever, which is shorthand for
a battery of tests performed when an elderly male presents with a fever of
unknown origin. The tests included in a GGF1 are a CBC, Chem
7, chest film, U/A, and blood cultures times twoGI cocktail - a commonly used mixture of liquid donnatal (which stops
gastrointestinal spasms), viscous lidocaine
and mylanta (which counteracts the stomach acid and soothes the stomach).
This concoction is often given to patients presenting with severe heartburn,
signs of an ulcer, or indications of an excess production of stomach acidgiardiasis - intestinal infection with the giardia bacteriaGlasgow coma scale - this scale is used to quickly determine the status
and degree of injury of a trauma victim to the head"Glove up and dig in" - see bowel disimpactiongolden hour - also known as the golden window. When treating a patient
who has had a myocardial infarction, emergency personnel must be
extremely careful during the first hour. The ventricles are very sensitive
during this period and life threatening arrythmias can occurgomer - ER slang for "Get Out of My Emergency Room" and is a
derogatory term for geriatric patients with multiple complicated
medical problemsgorked - ER slang for unconscious (as in "gorked patient"). Also used
as a noun, as in "I've got a gork in 2"Gram's stain - a stain test that identifies various forms of bacterial
microorganismsgranuloma - a tumorGSW - abbreviation for gunshot woundguiac - a test of stool with a gloved finger inserted looking for
blood

H

H and P - see also Focused H and P, history and physical: the
initial evaluation and examination of a patienthaldol - a drug (haloperidol) used for psychotic disorders, Tourette's
syndrome, and hyperactivity in childrenheart/lung bypass - using a machine to breathe and circulate blood for
a patient for any number of clinical or surgical reasons, like to
also used to rewarm the blood of severely hypothermic patientheimlich maneuver - a first-aid measure used to dislodge something
caught in a person's throat that is obstructing breathingHematochezia - maroon stools, usually from a lower GI bleedhematocrit - the proportion, by volume, of red blood cells in a
CBChemiparesis - paralysis or weakness on one side of the bodyhemorrhage - the dramatic and sudden loss of bloodhemoperfusion - dialysis of the blood to remove foreign substances such
as poisons or drugshemopneumothorax - blood and air in the pleura. Also often
referred to as a collapsed lungheparin - a blood anticoagulanthepatolenticular degeneration - excessive accumulation of copper in the
kidney, liver, and brain, which if untreated, is invariably fatalholosystolic murmur - a heart murmur that begins with the heart sound
S1 and occupying all of the systole, then reaching S2. S1 and S2 refer
to heart sounds noted during palpationHorner's syndrome - the term used to describe the clinical profile of
myosis, ptosis, and anhidrosis, which usually follows
paralysis of the cervical sympathetic nerves on one side of the bodyhydralazine - a synthetic compound that lowers blood pressurehyperaldosteronism - overproduction of the adrenal hormone aldosterone,
causing abnormalities in the sodium, water, and potassium levels in the bodyhypercalcemia - an abnormally high concentration of calcium in the
bloodhyperglycemia - high values of glucose in the bloodhyperlipidemia - excessive fat in the bloodhypoglycemia - low values of glucose in the bloodhypohemia - a lack of blood in the bodyhypotension - abnormally low blood pressurehypothermia - when the body temperature reaches significantly below
normal body temperatures (usually below 95 degrees)hypothyroidism - subnormal activity of the thyroid glandhypovolemia - a decrease in the volume of circulating blood; also
referred to as being in shockhypoxia - a severe deficiency of oxygen in the blood and tissues

I

ileectomy - surgical removal of the small intestineIM - abbreviation for intramuscular (pertaining to injections)infarction - an area of tissue dead due to a local lack of oxygeninfiltrate - an abnormal substance (eg. a cancer cell) in a tissue or
organintracerebral - inside the brainintubation - insertion of an endotracheal tube to help an unconscious
patient breatheirritable bowel syndrome - a chronic and unpleasant gastrointestinal
condition marked by abdominal cramping, and diarrhea or constipationischemia - when the heart is starving for oxygenIsordil - an antianginal agentIV - abbreviation for intravenous, meaning through the veinIV push - injecting medication rapidly into a vein to hit the blood
system all at once

K

K-Y - K-Y jelly. A widely used water-soluble lubricantKCl - (pronounced kay se-el) a potassium supplement, used to replace lost potassium in a patientKUB - shorthand for kidney, ureter, and bladder tests

L

lac - abbreviation for laceration (pronounced "lack")laparotomy - any surgery involving an incision in the abdominal walllaryngoscope - an instrument for examining the larynx, also to properly
visualize the vocal cords for endotracheal intubationlarynx - the "voice box"lasix - a drug for diuresis, gets its name in that it usually
lasts six hoursLFT - abbreviation for liver function testLOL - abbreviation for "Little Old Lady"lidocaine - a local anesthetic, also used to reduce cardiac muscle
automaticity, given intravenouslylithium - a drug commonly used to treat manic-depressive illnesslithotripsy - breaking up the renal calculi (kidney stones) with sound
waves so they can be passed in the urinelumbar puncture - the withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid through a hollow
needle inserted into the lumbar region between the L4 and L5 vertebrae. Also
referred to as a spinal taplytes - abbreviation for an electrolyte analysis
(pronounced "lights")

M

macrodantin - an anti-infective antibiotic used to prevent and treat
urinary tract infectionsmacrosomic - fetal weight of more than 4,000 gramsmagnesium sulfate - epsom salts, a fast-acting laxativemannitol - a natural sugar that acts as a diuretic, used in cases of
drug overdoses and cerebral swellingmeds - short for medications, or drugsmelena - when a person is bleeding from an ulcer, consisting of
black tarry stools indicative of upper GI bleedsmeningitis - an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding
the brain and spinal cordmeperedine - the chemical name for the narcotic painkiller
demerolmetacarpal fracture - a fracture of one of the five bones that form that
part of the hand between the wrist and the fingersmethylprednisolone - an anti-inflammatory steroidmg - abbreviation for milligramsMI - abbreviation for myocardial infarctionMRI - abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging by computer
using a strong magnetic field and radio frequenciesMVA - abbreviation used in ERs for a motor vehicle accidentmyocardial infarction - a heart attackmyosis - excessive contraction of the pupil in the eyeM&M - abbreviation for Morbidity/Mortality, is a conference held by
many departments on cases that either ended in death (where there was
an interesting diagnosis)--mortality, or someone with
a good diagnosis--morbidity. More malignant programs use it to embarrass
residents and their mistakes. If refreshments are served, often the
nickname is death and donuts (D&D)

N

narcan - naloxone, a drug used to counteract drug overdosesnecrotic - dead, as in "necrotic tissue"needle cricothyroidotomy - see cricothyroidotomyNG tube - abbreviation for a nasogastric tubeNICU - abbreviation for the neonatal intensive care unitnitro drip - an IV infusion of nitroglycerinenitroglycerine - an antianginal agentnorcuron - vecuronium, a neuromuscular blocking agent used to paralyze
for rapid-sequence intubationnormal sinus rhythm - a normal heart rate, which is between 60 and 80
beats per minute in an adultnosocomial infections - opportunistic infections contracted while in
the hospital, eg a urinary tract infection a patient develops from his
foley catheterNPO - abbreviation for nothing by mouth (from the Latin Nil
peros)NS - abbreviation for normal saline solutionNSAID - abbreviation for a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (eg Motrin,
Advil, etc)

O

O neg - type O, Rhesus negative blood; also called universal donor
blood since any human can receive O negative blood without complicationorbital fracture - a fracture of the bony socket that holds the
eyeballosteosarcoma - bone cancerotitis media - an infection of the middle ear

P

palp - this refers to blood pressure taken under emergency conditions
when listening for the systolic and diastolic pressures with
a stethoscope is impossible. Taken by feeling (palpation) the pulsepancreatitis - chronic or acute inflammation of the pancreaspancreatotomy - surgical removal of the pancreaspapilledema - edema of the optic disk, often indicative of
increased intracranial pressureparesis - partial or slight paralysispath urine - urinalysispavulon - trade name for the muscle relaxant pancuronium bromide. Pavulon
produces complete paralysis, but with no alteration of consciousnessPCP - Phencyclidine, a veterinary anesthetic that causes euphoria and
hallucinations in humanspedal - related to the footperfed appy - when an infected appendix bursts opens and spills into
the gutpericardial centesis - the draining of fluid from the
pericardiumpericardial effusion - blood or fluid leaking into the
pericardiumpericardium - the sac that envelops the heartperitoneal lavage - irrigation of the peritoneumperitoneum - a transparent membrane enclosing the abdominal cavityPID - abbreviation for pelvic inflammatory diseasepitocin - synthetic oxytocin, a pituitary hormone that causes uterine
contractions and is often used to induce laborplacental abruption - the placenta separates from the lining of the
womb too early, resulting in pain and bleedingplatelets - components of blood designed to form clots and plug leaks
from bleeding arteries and veinspleura - the lining around the lungPO2 - the oxygen tension in arterial bloodPQRST - A mnemonic device used to quickly evaluate chest pain. P stands
for "palliative and provoking": Does anything make the pain better or worse?;
Q stands for "quality"; What, precisely does the pain feel like? Is it stabbing
and knife-like or dull and throbbing?; R stands for "radiation": Does the pain
radiate anywhere beyond the chest, such as into the arm or jaw?; S stands for
"severity": On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being almost no pain at all and 10
being the worst pain imaginable, what number does the pain rank?; T stands for
"timing": What specifically, were you doing when the pain began and how long
have you had it?preeclampsia - the physical condition of pregnant woman prior to
eclampsia. Symptoms include blood pressure greater than 140/90;
persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine); and edemapreemie - slang expression for a baby born before full term, usually
defined as a child born weighing less than five and a half poundsprocardia - a calcium channel blocker prescribed for
Raynaud's phenomena and high blood pressureProlixin - a drug (fluphenazine hydrochloride) used for psychotic
disorders, moderate to severe depression, control of agitation, intractable
pain, senility, and alcohol withdrawal symptomsPT - prothrombine time, a clotting factor test for bloodPTT - partial prothrombine time, see PTptosis - drooping of the eyelidpulmonary edema - fluid in the lungspulmonary embolism - a blood clot in the lungspulsatile - beating, as in a pulsatile masspulse - a pulsating artery that gives evidence that the heart is
beating, usually about 70 times per minutepuls/ox - pulse oximetry, a measure of the saturation of hemoglobin by
oxygen, or how well the person is breathingpulsus paradoxus - a condition in which the pulse pressure
declines during respiratory inspirationPVCs - premature cardiac ventricular contractionspyelogram - an x-ray of the kidneys using an intravenously inserted
dye

Q

q - every iteration, ie a med of Q5min would be every five minutes,
or Q6h is every 6 hours

R

rape kit - a package containing envelopes for the collection of hair,
sperm, and blood samples of a rape victims, as well as the official reporting
formsrapid infuser - a device that transports blood into the system at a
fast rate to help prevent hypohemiareflux - moving backward in the esophagusrenogram - an x-ray of the kidneysrespirations - breaths; the act of inhaling and exhalingretrocecal - behind the cecumrifampin - an antibiotic used to treat meningitis,
tuberculosis, Legionnaire's disease, leprosy, and staph infectionsrifabutin - a drug used to help prevent mycobacterium avium complex
disease in patients with HIV infectionsRinger's solution - an intravenous solution consisting of salt,
potassium, and calcium boiled in water used to treat dehydration

S

saline solution - a blood volume substitute made of salt and water,
a temporary substitute for lost bloodschizophrenia - a mental disorder marked by hallucinations, delusions,
and disintegration of the thought processesscoop and run - a term used by EMTs and ER personnel for a situation
where no treatment is possible at an accident scene and all they can do it
"scoop" up the victims and "run" with them to the ERsecond-degree burn - there are two levels of second-degree burn: The
first level is a burn in which both the epidermis and the underlying dermis are
damaged. The color of the burn is red (and there may be blistering); capillary
refill is present; the skin texture is edematous (filled with fluid), and the
burn heals in 10 to 21 days with no or minimal scarring. The second level is
a damaging, deep partial-thickness burn that is pink or white in color;
capillary refill might or might not be present; the skin texture is thick;
and the burn heals in 25-60 days with a dense scarsed rate - erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a red blood count used to
determine inflammation and tissue destructionsepsis - a very severe infectionserum amylase enzyme test - a test for pancreatitisshock - a circulatory disturbance marked by a severe drop in blood
pressure, rapid pulse, clammy skin, pallor, and a rapid heart ratesolu-medrol - methylprednisolone, a form or prednisone, an adrenal
corticosteroid, a powerful steroidspinal tap - see lumbar puncturespleen - a part of lymphatic system, helps filter blood of bacteria
and impuritiessplenectomy - surgical removal of the spleenstasis - a slowing or stopping of blood flowstat - from the Latin statinum, meaning immediatelySTD - abbreviation for sexually transmitted diseasesternotomy - surgical opening of the breast bonestomach pumping - a large tube called an Ewald is inserted into the
stomach, sucks out the contents, then the stomach is flushed out with clear
water then charcoal and a cathartic (a fluid that passes through the bowel
quickly)streptokinase - an enzyme that can break up and liquefy blood clotsstridor - what breathing sounds like when the larynx or trachea is
obstructedsubdural - outside the brainsublingual - a medication that is taken by dissolving under the tonguesuccinylcholine - a short-acting muscle relaxantsystolic - pressure during the contraction of the heart
systolic murmur - a cardiac murmur that occurs between the first and
second heart sounds

T

T3, T4, etc - Third thoracic vertebrae; fourth thoracic vertebrae,
etctachycardia - an extremely rapid heart rate, usually signified by a
pulse over 100 beats per minutetamoxifen - the chemotherapy drug of choice for postmenopausal
metastatic breast cancertension pneumothorax - a collapsed lungtetralogy of Fallot - a surgically correctable congenital heart defect
that consists of pulmonary stenoisis. hypertrophy (enlargement), of the
right ventricle, a ventricular septal defect, and a shift of the aorta to the
rightthird-degree burn - a burn that damages (or destroys) the full thickness
of the skin and the tissues underneath. The color of the burn is white, black,
or brown; capillary refill is absent; the skin texture is leathery; and there
is no spontaneous healingthoracotomy - surgery on the thoracic (chest cavity)thorazine - a multipurpose drug (chlorpromazine) that works as a
sedative, an antiemetic, an antispasmodic, and a hypotensive. It is often
used in the management of psychiatric and senile patientsthrill - a vibration that a doctor or nurse can feel by touch, often
used to describe cardiac murmurs that can be felt through the chest wallthrombosis - a blood clottib-fib fracture - fracture of the tibia & fibula in part of the leg below the kneetimoptic - a drug prescribed for high blood pressure and to reduce the
possibility of another heart attacktoradol - ketorolac, an injectable nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent
often used as a substitute for morphine in intoxicated patients or for those
patients suspected of seeking narcoticstorsades de pointes - a type of polymorphic ventricular
tachycardia in which the heart races at extremely high rates in an
arrhythmiatox screen - toxicological analysis of the blood, ordered when a drug
overdose is suspected and the drugs need to be identifiedtPA - the abbreviation for tissue plasminogen activator, a drug used
as an alternative to angioplasty to break up blood clots during a
heart attacktracheal shift - a physical shift of the windpipe due to traumatrauma center - an emergency room with a trauma surgeon on dutytriage - the system of prioritizing patients in an emergency situation
in which there are a great number of injured or illtype and crossmatch - blood typing to identify patient's blood type

U

U/A - urinalysis, used to test for kidney failure, dehydration,
diabetes, undernourishment, or bladder or kidney infectionulcerative colitis - an inflammatory and ulcerative condition of the
colonultrasound - a test similar to an x-ray, but which uses sound wavesunstable angina - angina pectoris in which the cardiac pain has
changed in patternuric acid - an acid formed in the breakdown of nucleoproteins in
tissues; often tested when gout is suspected since a high uric acid content
in the blood often causes gout symptoms and the formation of stonesUTI - abbreviation for urinary tract infection

V

V/Q scan - a ventilation-perfusion scan, used to confirm a diagnosis
of pulmonary embolismvalsalva maneuver - when a patient is instructed to blow on his or her
thumb to maximize intrathoracic pressure.. It is used when cardiac trouble is
suspectedvecuronium - see norcuronvenipuncture - the drawing of blood from a veinventricular septal rupture - rupture of the ventricular septum caused
by mechanical failure of infarcted cardiac tissueverapamil - a calcium channel blocker prescribed for
angina pectoris, high blood pressure, and supraventricular
tachycardiaversed - a benzodiazepine muscle relaxant used to sedate, often in
conjunction with the paralyzing agent pavulonvitamin H - ER shorthand for haldolV-fib - ventricular fibrillationV-tach - ventricular tachycardia

W

WBC - abbreviation for white blood cell count, used to determine how
many white blood cells there are in the body to defend against bacteriawheezer - an asthmatic patient, or any patient having difficulty
breathingWhipple procedure - a pancreatotomy, where the distal stomach, gallbladder, and duodenum are usually also taken out during the surgery, and they usually leave a little of the distal pancreas behind.